Surname Novotny - Meaning and Origin

Novotny: What does the surname Novotny mean?

The last name Novotny is of Czech origin and it translates to "new" or "newcomer" in English. Deriving from the root word 'nový', meaning new, it would often be given to newcomers in a town or village. Despite its very simple meaning, it is quite a common surname in the Czech Republic. It could have also been used to designate someone who was innovative or a beginner in their profession. Like many other surnames, it started being used during the middle ages for the purpose of distinguishing people with the same first name. Given its derivation, it does not belong to the category of patronymic, occupational or geographical surnames. Over time, it has undergone changes in its spelling and pronunciation due to regional influences.

Novotny: Where does the name Novotny come from?

Today, the last name Novotny is most commonly seen in the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is located in Central Europe, bordered by Germany, Austria, Poland, and Slovakia. The name Novotny is derived from the Czech word novoty, which means 'innovation' or 'newness'.

Novotny is a Czech-language name and is believed to have originated prior to the 17th century. The first recorded instance of the last name was found in the year 1619 in the town of Dobříš in Bohemia.

The name Novotny is also fairly common in Slovakia, Hungary, and Austria. It is believed that throughout the 18th and 19th century, many individuals bearing this name migrated from these Central European countries into other parts of the world such as North America, South America, and Australia, and as a result, the last name has become increasingly common in multiple countries.

The earliest recorded Novotnys in the United States have been traced back to the 19th century. Today, there are more than 3,000 people living in the United States bearing the last name Novotny, with the largest concentrations in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois.

The last name Novotny is also common in Canada. Statistics from the 2016 Census of Canada reveal that there were 1,470 individuals in Canada with the last name Novotny with the largest concentrations living in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

In Australia, the last name Novotny has been registered since the early 19th century, and today, there are thousands of people living in the country bearing the last name.

Overall, the last name Novotny is most commonly found in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, United States, Canada, and Australia.

Variations of the surname Novotny

Novotny is a common surname originating from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, as well as other parts of Central and Eastern Europe. It is believed to derive from the word “nový” meaning “new”, and can be found as Novotny, Novotný, Nowotny, Nawotny, Novotney, Nowotney, and Nawotney. There are also variants with diacritics, such as Novotný and Nowotný, and some individuals with this same surname have also adopted “Novák” or “Nowak” which can be derived from either “nový” or “nový prostý” which means “orphan”.

Most of these Novotny surnames are found in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly the Czech Republic and Slovakia, but can also be found in some countries in North America, mainly due to immigration in the 19th and early 20th century. It is also encountered in some areas of Russia, Hungary, Austria, and Germany.

In some instances, individuals who were of Jewish descent and were persecuted during World War II, changed their surname to Novotny in order to hide their Jewish identity. It is likely this has led to some variants of the surname in Russia, Ukraine, and other eastern European countries today.

Though the Novotny spelling is most common, individuals with this surname have adopted various alternatives over time. No matter the spelling, though, they ultimately originate from the same source and share the same origin.

Famous people with the name Novotny

• David Novotny: Czech professional ice hockey player
• Zuzana Novotná: Slovakian athlete
• Karel Novotný: Czech ice hockey and football player
• Jitka Novotná: Czech Paralympic athlete
• Míša Novotná: Czech javelin thrower
• Stanislav Novotný: Czech alpine skier
• Jiří Novotný: Czech luger
• Vít Novotný: Czech historian
• Tomáš Novotný: Czech volleyball player
• Luděk Novotný: Czech pop singer
• Pavel Novotný: Czech former basketball player
• Radek Novotný: Czech former national team footballer
• Jan Novotný: Czech composer and organist
• David Novotný: Czech-American biologist
• Petr Novotný: Czech professional golfer
• Tomáš Novotný: Czech actor, improviser
• Jakub Novotný: Czech volleyball player
• Ondřej Novotný: Czech artist
• Tereza Novotná: Czech former national team gymnast
• Jakub Novotný: Czech ice hockey player

Other surnames

Novotna